Audi A4 Review & Test Drive

Audi A4 Review & Test Drive

Audi A4 Overview

The A4 which has been selling for over 40 years now has been the Audi’s longest and best selling sedan. With its sharp and aggressive looks, this sedan has gained high popularity and has also elevated Audi’s position in India. The car maker claims that with its progressive design, efficient driving dynamics and class defining interiors, the A4 can take on most cars in its space.

Audi recently beefed up the A4 with a more powerful 177hp 2.0 TDI engine. It also gets Audi Drive Select to improve driving comfort and overall performance. The new sedan can reach a speed of 100 km/h from standstill in just 7.9 seconds. We decided to see if it is as impressive in the real world as it seems on paper.

Audi A4 Design

Immediately recognizable as an A4, the new sedan is slightly larger than its predecessor, a sign that Audi redesigned it using the same successful recipe we’ve come to know for decades. The shape hasn’t changed and the styling is familiar, albeit with sharper lines. This comes as no surprised given the new 2016 Audi Q7 and the 2016 Audi R8 received similar treatment. The model is more aerodynamic than its forerunner, and according to Audi, it’s also the most aerodynamic in its class, with a drag coefficient of only 0.23.

“The shape hasn’t changed and the styling is familiar, albeit with sharper lines.” While the front apron got only minor changes in the foglamp/intake area, the grille and the headlamps are as fresh as they get. Both feature sharper design cues, while the headlamps have a new pattern and extend less toward the fenders. There’s also a slightly reshaped hood. Together, these new features make the A4 look significantly more aggressive. The rear sports similar styling. The new bumper, the slightly shorter trunk lid and the slimmer, redesigned taillights give it a fresh and bold appearance. By contrast, the profile hasn’t changed much, even though Audi meddled with the side skirts and the quarter-windows.

As far as dimensions go, the new sedan is 1 inch longer and 0.55 inch wider, and its wheelbase has gained 0.6 inch. The car’s height has remained essentially unchanged. The big news regarding the A4’s revised body is that it’s 33.1 pounds lighter than its predecessor’s, contributing to an overall weight that has been decreased by up to 264 pounds, depending on trim and engine.

Alongside the sedan, Audi also unveiled the A4 Avant, which features the same styling updates and a sportier roof. The wagon is less aerodynamic than the sedan, with a drag coefficient of 0.26. Both models can be had with optional LED and matrix LED headlamps.

The interior is where the A4 received a lot more changes. The sedan’s cabin was rather dated compared to what its competitors had to offer, especially the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and Audi made sure it got the attention it deserved. Even though the overall layout is still somewhat classic for an Audi, the dash and the center stack are cleaner to look at. The most obvious addition is the new 8.3-inch color display, now positioned atop the dashboard. The infotainment controls are closer to the center console.

“Even though the overall layout is still somewhat classic for an Audi, the dash and the center stack are cleaner to look at.” The steering wheel is also new, seemingly based on that of the 2014 Audi Prologue Concept’s. The same goes for the MMI controls. The shifter, on the other hand, is more similar to the A8’s. Audi revamped the door panels too, giving them a more upscale look. The controls are now positioned lower on the handle, which should make them easier to use while driving. The aluminum inserts here improve the sedan’s premium feel. The continuous air vent strip on the dashboard makes the cabin seem wider.

The slightly bigger body dimensions and the redesigned interior features enable the new A4 to deliver enhanced roominess. In fact, Audi says it has the “…longest interior and greatest shoulder width at the front compared with competitors.”

It also has new colors and materials, standard LED lighting, lightweight seats, and a new interface for the automatic climate control. The new MMI system includes navigation, touch capability, LTE connectivity, WiFi, and free-text search function. A head-up display and the Audi virtual cockpit feature are available as options, as is the LED interior package with color-adjustable lighting. There’s also an optional Bang & Olufsen sound system and Audi tablet as mobile rear-seat entertainment.

Audi A4 Gearbox

The 2017 Audi A4 diesel comes fitted with a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder TDI diesel engine. The power it generates is 190bhp and it has a torque of 400Nm. This engine is mated to a seven-speed S-Tronic automatic transmission. It takes about 7.7 seconds to reach 0-100 km/h from 0. The A4 diesel is a very torquey unit. I experienced a lot of torque steer as well, when pushed hard. The NVH levels are excellent and at par with what one would expect from a car of this class. The A4 gets the Audi Drive Select which has four modes. These are Comfort, Auto, Dynamic and Individual.

New Audi A4 Diesel EngineThe 2017 Audi A4 is also offered with a 1.4-litre TFSI petrol engine. This engine churns out about 150bhp of power and is offered with a seven-speed S-Tronic transmission. The A3 is offered with a 1.8-litre despite a smaller body. But, with a reduction of weight by about 95 kilograms, this much power is sufficient. Especially for those who are chauffeur driven. Audi has played its weight reduction card very well. The smaller engine doesn’t affect the performance that much. Also, now there is the DSG on the 2017 Audi A4 instead of CVT on the previous sedan. This also makes up way for it.

Audi A4 Driving

Audi A4 sedan provides superior road handling and driving comfort. The latest model of the car comes with a unique Drive Select technology, which enables the driver to choose from ‘Comfort’ and ‘Dynamic’ drive modes, by operating buttons located on the instrument panel. The dynamic suspension system, with upper and lower wishbones; tubular anti-roll bar in the front and Independent, trapezoidal link, anti roll bar in the rear are specifically designed for agile handling, so that you can take bends with ease. For information on contact details of Audi car dealers in Chennai

Audi A4 Safety

New generation safety equipments have been installed in the latest model of Audi A4. The car comes with Electronic Stability Program, with traction control and Antilock Braking System, to ensure that the driver acquires full control over the vehicle during emergencies. Apart from this, the car features dual stage front airbags, side and curtain airbags, to protect the passengers from the impact of collision in the event of accidents. Contributing to its amazing safety is the Servotronic speed-sensitive power assisted steering wheel.

Audi A4 is the flagship car of Audi and it satisfies Indian customers needs. Audi A4 provides a pleasant ride with features of safety, comfort and luxury. The cutting edge design and the state of the art technologies make this car to be more distinct. The A4 is a great car and creates a very tough fight to its competitors. It’s worth the money spent on it but keep an eye on detail about its maintanence